A Nigerian woman living in Massachusetts is facing federal charges in the United States after prosecutors accused her of claiming to be an American citizen and then voting in US elections.
Gladys Adaeze Okafor, 56, who lives in Lynn, Massachusetts, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with allegedly voting unlawfully as a non-citizen.
The US Department of Justice announced the case on September 16, 2026.
According to the charging documents, Okafor was born in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria.
Prosecutors said she later obtained lawful permanent resident status in the United States in December 2022, but she is not an American citizen.
The allegations against her, however, reportedly began even before she became a permanent resident.
According to the case documents, Okafor registered to vote in July 2022.
During that registration, prosecutors allege that she signed a declaration confirming that she was a US citizen and acknowledging that the declaration was made under penalty of perjury.
She was subsequently registered as a voter in Lynn.
Then, prosecutors allege, she went on to vote in the 2022 US midterm elections.
But the matter did not end there.
In October 2023, Okafor allegedly submitted another voter registration application.
Once again, she reportedly indicated on the form that she was a US citizen.
Prosecutors then accused her of voting in the 2024 presidential primary election.
Following her arrest, Okafor is expected to appear before a federal court in Boston, where the case will proceed.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison, one year of supervised release and a $100,000 fine.
There is also another possible consequence because Okafor is not a US citizen.
Depending on the outcome of the case and any sentence imposed, she could face deportation from the United States after completing her sentence.
The prosecution is being handled by Assistant US Attorney Julissa Walsh of the Major Crimes Unit.
For now, the allegations remain accusations, and Okafor is entitled to due process as the case moves through the federal court system.
(Source: Daily Post)
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